ACADEMIC EMPLOYEE RELATIONS RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYST - REMOTE

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UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

At the University of California (UC), your contributions make a difference. A world leader producing Nobel and Pulitzer prize recipients with over 150 years of groundbreaking research transforming the world. Choose a career where you can leverage your knowledge, skills and aspirations to inspire and support some of the greatest minds in the world, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Working at the University of California is being part of a unique institution, and a vibrant and diverse community. At the University of California, Office of the President, we propel our mission through impactful work locally, in government centers and systemwide. We are passionate people, serving the greater good.

The University of California, one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. The University of California Office of the President is the headquarters to the 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories and enrolls premier students from California, the nation and the world. Learn more about the UC Office of the President

Department Overview

Systemwide Academic Personnel manages policy supporting academic careers at UC. We are the stewards of the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) and serve as the UC Center of Expertise for academic recruitment, retention, advancement, compensation, diversity, employee and labor relations, and data analysis.

Position Summary
Under the direction of the Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost and Directors, provides advanced-level expertise and analysis in the development, interpretation, and implementation of academic bargaining unit contracts and academic personnel policies; including drafting policy and contract language for policy- and contract-covered academic employees. Reviews and analyze data to advise on academic personnel policy, collective bargaining agreements, and related matters. Conducts case analysis and coordination; provides recommendations for formal responses. Assists Academic Labor and Employee Relations Director in the review and coordination of academic employee relations actions rising to the level of the UC Provost, President, or Regents; applying Regents, Presidential, and APM policies for consistency across all academic units. Serves as primary lead for the collection and review of internal and external institutional policy and collective bargaining agreements, and legislative matters that impact Academic Personnel. Prioritizes work assignments, adapts to changing priorities, and conducts complex and varied analyses and develops resulting recommendations. Works collaboratively and cross-functionally with all teams within Systemwide Academic Personnel. This position is eligible for a remote work arrangement within the state of California, and with ability to be on-site in Oakland, CA as needed for work related purposes. The selected candidate must reside within the state of California or be willing to relocate.

*Please review our other posted position (# 71193 - Academic Employee Relations Project and Policy Analyst) *

Key Responsibilities

50% Academic Employee Relations: Under the direction of the Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost and Directors, collects, organizes, and analyzes University interpretation and implementation of academic personnel policy and bargaining unit contracts, to ensure consistency systemwide. Provides for the coordination, communication, and implementation of collective bargaining agreements and other projects related to Academic Labor and Employee Relations; develops and shares best practices; keeps informed on current cases and issues; develops administrative guidelines and manuals as needed. Extensively collects, organizes, and analyzes relevant information, policies, collective bargaining agreements, and best practices across higher education, in areas related to academic labor and employee relations or other academic personnel topics; drafts summary of findings for Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost, Directors and Associate Directors. Participates in the review of academic grievances and complaints submitted to the Office of the President, including the development and preparation of the Office of the President's response, conduct of investigations, and coordination with campuses, Systemwide Labor Relations, Governmental Relations, Ethics, Compliance and Audit Services, and the Office of General Counsel. Cases include, but are not limited to whistleblowers, medical separation, termination, faculty code of conduct, and Step III contractual appeals. Works with the Academic Policy & Compensation Data team in Systemwide Academic Personnel and campus academic personnel directors to produce data needed for bargaining including cost estimates for contract actions and market competitiveness. May conduct special training for campus personnel programs that address specialized campus implementation issues and creates toolkits for their use, as needed; keeps campuses and Systemwide Academic Personnel colleagues apprised of new labor and employee relations developments that may impact academic personnel policy. Reviews and analyzes complex academic personnel matters and recommends strategies for addressing sensitive situations involving academic appointees; identifies and utilizes precedent-setting situations to recommend new organizational procedures and practices to mitigate future risk. May conduct highly sensitive interviews, analyze separation or other academic employee relations statistics, and make recommendations. Responds to academic employee relations issues according to state and federal laws and academic labor contracts. Provides advice and counsel to campuses, UCOP units, and other stakeholders on complex wide ranging academic employee relations issues.

35% Academic Personnel Policy: Working collaboratively between all teams within Systemwide Academic Personnel and Programs, serves as advisor on all aspects of academic personnel policies, programs and procedures that relate to academic personnel employee relations and including leaves of absence and benefits for represented academic employees. Under the direction of the Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost and Directors, assists in all aspects of academic personnel policy development, implementation and administration that relate to academic personnel employee relations. This includes proactively drafting, reviewing, and updating policies to include accountability and training standards as appropriate and the analysis and resolution of issues relating to faculty recruitment and retention. Provides resources to campuses regarding policy interpretations, implementation and authority, in areas related to academic employee relations. In close coordination with the Systemwide Academic Personnel Executive Director, provides high-level APM policy analysis and interpretation to Systemwide Academic Personnel leadership, campuses, UCOP units, and other stakeholders, in areas related to academic employee relations. Reviews drafts of new Academic Personnel Manual sections and other academic policies and provides expertise on compliance aspects in areas related to academic employee relations. Monitors and analyzes the intersection of academic personnel policies with collective bargaining agreements and other UC policies, such as leaves, benefits, payroll, and research policies. Coordinates with UCOP units, such as Research & Innovation, on internal and external program or contractual requirements that impact academic appointees. Gathers, reviews, and integrates information relating to academic employee relations and academic labor contracts, from both internal and externals sources. Collaborates with UCOP units and the campuses to facilitate new policy or program development, implementation guidelines, and provide data and develop online tools that facilitate compliance at the campus level. Conducts, coordinates, and oversees a variety of special projects as assigned related to the development of academic personnel and compensation plan policies, processes, and procedures.

10% Compliance: Under the direction of the Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost and Directors, reviews legislative and regulatory initiatives and recommends revisions in language or in policy and procedure to ensure compliance. Performs legislative analysis for major bills, amendments, and sponsored legislation; identifies impacts of proposed legislation on current policy and collective bargaining agreements. Ensures that legal and regulatory requirements are met in terms of employee relations to minimize exposure to liability for the organization. Works with the Systemwide Academic Personnel Deputy Provost and Directors to verify that academic personnel policy updates are in compliance with employment laws. Assists campuses with the application of DOL statutes relating, for example, to FLSA statuses. Manages sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner. 

5% Academic Personnel Representative: Leads or serves as assigned analyst on UCOP and systemwide committees, task forces, and work groups representing academic personnel. Participates in the development of items and reports that are presented to the Board of Regents, President, Provost, Academic Senate, and University senior management, and makes presentations to task forces, work groups, the Academic Senate, and campus Vice Provosts and Academic Personnel Offices. Coordinates the development and production of reports related to academic personnel issues. 

Experience
Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of employment/labor policies, practices, programs, and issues, and experience integrating policy recommendations and solutions within a highly diverse and politicized environment (both internal and external).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education.

Skills and Abilities
Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply systemwide and organization policies and procedures which govern academic personnel.
• Possesses advanced analytical skills to conduct analysis and develop recommendations, demonstrating organization and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze highly sensitive and complex management issues; develop project scope and solutions; provide professional advice to organization executives and other senior officials; make critical decisions and effective recommendations.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively and persuasively, written, oral, and electronic, with diverse audiences throughout the organizational community.
• Creativity and flexibility in approaching unique problems, as well as an understanding of the wider organization and university context in which these problems must be addressed.
• Excellent written, electronic, and oral communication skills.
• Excellent ability to research topics and prepare complex reports and memos.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the University's mission, organizational structures, operations, programs, academic policies, and OP and campus administrative structures. 
• Knowledge of institutional policy-making and consultative processes. 
• Experience with shared governance and familiarity with current issues impacting UC, or the ability to quickly gain such understanding of UC organizational structure, history, consultative structures, and political nuances.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate independently with representatives from the Office of the President and UC campuses to develop solutions to problems having systemwide implications.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality of privileged information, and perform a wide range of duties that require tact, sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, organizational skills, flexibility and discretion.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including the ability to adapt to constantly changing priorities in managing a wide range of projects; ability to respond to short timelines on high priority projects for OP leadership.
• Demonstrated advanced ability to focus on key issues, research, gather and integrate information and lead or participate with others across organizational and institutional lines in developing a wide range of qualified resources and data as the basis for formulating recommendations and developing approaches to resolving issues and problems.
• Experience integrating policy recommendations and solutions within a highly diverse and politicized environment (both internal and external).
• Demonstrated ability to be proactive, creative and innovative in solving problems and issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in teams and independently and to effectively work with staff at all levels of the organization.
• Experience developing solutions on issues and developing effective materials and presentations for an array of audiences including The Regents, faculty groups such as Academic Senate Committees, and campus constituents.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of systemwide, campus and / or medical center policies and procedures; expert knowledge of functional area and understands how work impacts other areas in Academic Personnel and the system.
• Possesses highly developed skills to provide guidance to managers and employees on complex and significant labor and employee relations issues.
• Has advanced knowledge of dispute resolution and grievance procedures and advanced knowledge of administering and ensuring adherence to labor / union contracts.
• Advanced knowledge of union / labor contracts.
• Advanced knowledge of applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
• Advanced skills to read, interpret, understand and respond to pending and proposed legislation, including skills to write effective position statements and draft amendments to proposed legislation.
• Demonstrated leadership, initiative, tact, and planning skills.
• Demonstrated skills to provide guidance on complex and significant issues that impact academic personnel.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities in leading others in the areas of change management.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise excellent judgment.
• Possesses strong attention to detail and active listening skills, including advanced critical thinking.
• Demonstrated advanced skills in drafting, reviewing, proofreading, and editing complex documents, memos, or policies.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a wide range of people and to create and sustain a positive, inclusive work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to handle difficult situations or individuals effectively.
• Sensitivity to the diverse perspectives and political circumstances within all levels of the organization, as well as Office of the President and various external institutions and agencies.
• Ability to foster strong relationship with high-level University leaders, faculty, staff, campus leadership groups, and other key stakeholders; understanding of the place of the University in the community and the state.
• Appreciation for the mission and responsibilities of a public university serving a multi-ethnic state and an understanding of excellence through diversity.
• Experience with the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Education
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced or post-graduate degree in Law, Business Administration, Higher Education, or other professional, masters, or doctorate degree that provides important training for this role.

Travel Requirements
5% Occasional business travel to campuses or other locations for meetings, conferences, or events.

Job Title
Employee Relations Rep 4

Job Code
000497

Salary Grade
Grade 24

Payscale:
$130,000 - $145,000

The University of California, Office of the President, is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The full salary range shows the growth potential for this position and the pay scale is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position.

Benefits: For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: Benefits of Belonging

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position is eligible for a remote work arrangement within the state of California, and with expectations to report to Oakland, CA as needed for work related purposes. The selected candidate must reside within the state of California or be willing to relocate.

HOW TO APPLY

Please be prepared to attach a cover letter and resume with your application.

APPLICATION REVIEW DATE

The first review date for this job is August 15, 2024. The position will be open until filled.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check Process: Successful completion of a background check is required for this critical position. Background check process at UCOP

Smoke Free Work Environment: The University of California, Office of the President, is smoke & tobacco-free as of January 1, 2014. UC Smoke & Tobacco Free Policy

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

EEO STATEMENT

The University of California, Office of the President, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy please visit:  https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20 .  For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination .

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